The Republican Party’s Problems

After months of carefully dissecting the ‘problems’ of the Republican Party the RNC launched a 100-page initiative and outreach program to “win the hearts” and votes of minorities, women, and youth. Really? It took months of dissecting to learn that the GOP is out of touch with minorities and youth? This program comes at a hefty cost too — $10 million this year —and will send hundreds of party workers into communities to promote its brand among voters who supported Democrats in 2012. Why is the RNC obsessed with drawing attention to something they should have been doing in the first place?

Until this week, the GOP has put up almost no resistance against accusations that the party consists of old white men trying to make a buck. For years, focus groups, the media, and pop culture described the party as ‘narrow minded,’ ‘out of touch,’ and ‘Stuffy old men.’

Dems, on the other hand, trot out a task-force of stars such as Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Jay-Z, Pitbull, Marc Anthony, and Scarlett Johansson, just to name a few. (Of note: Pitbull endorsed John McCain in the 2008 election with hardly any enthusiasm from the GOP.)

Is the GOP afraid of pop culture? What happened to the good old days of John Wayne, Sylvester Stallone, Clint Eastwood, Jackie Robinson, and Frank Sinatra? There are plenty of A-list celebrities who are conservatives —not just Donald Trump — but we choose to ignore them. If they believe in the principles of liberty, why don’t we ask for support from the likes of Vince Vaughn, Adam Sandler, Big-Boi (of OutKast), Jessica Simpson, Tim Tebow, 50 Cent, and Robert Griffin III? Chances are they aren’t happy with the direction of the country either.

It seems clear that the RNC did not consult with any women, minorities, or youth, prior to releasing their outreach initiative. If they did they would realize that the definition of outreach is relating to people in ways they understand with people who understand them. We need to begin building meaningful relationships with Americans and take the conservative message outside of its comfort zone. It’s time for Reince to go back to the drawing board, and when he does, the boardroom should be full of women, minorities, and youth.

A for instance: Having read the autopsy report (RNC's "Growth and Opportunity Project") with several stops to reread what I'd just read (it is that unbelievable); With respect to the Latino/Hispanic issue, I am not convinced that they sought advice from anyone outside of groups or individuals who are incredibly lax on border security, demanding of Amnesty, and obstructionists toward the will to actually perform the duties of law enforcement.

There are profound, differing, minority opinions other than those advanced by a media which portrays the entire Latino/Hispanic demographic as being lockstep with an ideology that strongly suggests, correction, demands rewards for wrong doing. If we are to be completely honest about individuals who live in the shadows, it is we dissenters against the common misrepresentation, those of us who have been intentionally avoided; it is we who have been ignored deep into the shadows.

To your comment, the RNC cannot realize delight until they listen to the very unique view point of minorities who are not of the status quo - minorities who stand firm with the conviction that tells the media, the Dem Party, and Repubs of compromise, that we can and will speak for ourselves.

Can you imagine the look on Liberalism's collective face when they see us step from the shadows, denouncing their philosophy and the deceit they used to administer it. What a beautiful day that would be. But then again, that would require the support of reluctant Repubs. It is that reluctance that stands in the way.

Kudos, even "Dittos" Nick Bailey ....From this minority's watchtower, observing Priebus' and the RNC's search for answers is an exercise in humiliation. Sincere as it may be, I am embarrassed for their inept attempts that scream they still don't get it. I see them walking around, scratching their heads with that look of the proverbial deer in the headlights.

This all reeks of the need to put the 800 pound question directly on Reince's table: Who are you guys listening to?

@rofomoreno More broadly, though, I think this country has rached a scary tipping point where Prceived compassion is more important than actual competence. Romney beat Obama in exit polls on just about every question of competence to solve actual issues, but then got creamed on "cares about people like me." Bill Clinton "felt" our pain, as if that actually matters in the real world. The belief that government's role is primarily to serve as a vehicle for compassion (rather than the core functions of justice, adjudication of disputes, security, etc.) has become pandemic.

Seen through that lens, the Republicans have become gun-shy on the immigration issue for the same reason they are gun-shy on everything else. The electorate has become a bunch of squishy, effeminate, Oprah-watchers who care more about whether politicians appear nice than whether they are actually competent. And the left has spent the last 60 years both goosing and capitalizing on that trend, portraying anyone who opposes statism as "mean." The Republicans just don't know how to fight that, on immigration or any issue.

I agree that they need to find a way, but it's not easy. This is a big problem.

@WesternFreePress A micro look into the Perception of compassion (quite accurate) that the Left enjoys so immensely, it becomes exposed as a cesspool stinking of ulterior motives (quite obvious to us). That Perception is phenomenon in it's ability that it draws in so many atrophy minded who are so easily distracted away from the urgency of what they are losing. I recognize it as an act (as in stage drama) of Feigned Compassion effective enough to gain the trust of the comfortably low informed. It is a slick marketing and ad strategy that gives it the reality show believability. Be it indoctrination or brain washing or some new kind of porn, the Left has damn near perfected the way in which to keep the attention of their flock focused to a Leftward agenda. And Repub leadership has sat by and watched them do it.

I would insist that if leading so many to the Left can be accomplished through deceit (the ability to marginalize the truth), there is no reason in the world that these trends cannot be reversed by exposing the deceit with strategic measures of well aimed truth. There is no valid reason that we cannot deploy the same tactical measures that "Rules for Radicals" has had success with. Let Conservative minorities and youth put "Rules for the Right" into affect to begin a reversal of trends.

Enough of the tip toe through the tulips of tender feelings. Repub leadership needs a lesson in street fight rhetoric. The Left can be cut to shreds with words of truth coming from those who are well versed in the fight.

@WesternFreePress I would suggest that a significant part of the answer that the RNC seeks, rests with the Conservative minorities who patiently wait to be recognized as leaders who want to be enlisted. Grassroots minorities who have no fear of the rhetorical fight.

If Priebus (and even Robert Graham) fail to relinquish the grip of too proud to ask, then prepare for the RNC to perpetuate more compromise and relinquish more of the political landscape to the Dems.

Prepare again for opportunity's point of no return to parade right past us.

@rofomoreno I dunno, Rofo . . . I am right there with you; I'd like to see a lot more minority involvement, BUT . . . if that is the only way that we can defend and advance our principles, then there is a problem. It would be a great way, and effective way, but I do not believe it's the only way.

@WesternFreePress Fight fire with tokens. With respect to Hispanic Outreach and your three levels of rhetoric (this also references your link "Are We Reading Too Much Into This Election?'"). My suggestion:

Defense: The ONLY effective approach to this is to place a willing, conservatively principled minority at the forefront of any racial implication, even at it"s slightest hint. Simply put, an Anglo trying to fend off allegations of bigotry against the Party will always be on the defensive with the only option out being through an apology (surrender and culpability).

Advocacy: The ONLY effective approach to this is to place a willing, Conservative principled minority at the forefront of articulating Conservative policies which coincidentally are overwhelmingly inherent in minority family structure. There is no good reason to allow that family structure be defined by Liberalism.

Offense: As a bumper sticker of the 70's stated it so well: "One atomic bomb can ruin your whole day:" The ONLY effective approach to this is to place a willing, conservatively principled minority to drop a bomb on the Left's parade at every opportunity. A common sense, well reasoned minority response to implied racism, or intolerance, will always leave the Left rummaging through the ruins on a daily basis. Their only flailing response would be one of trying to make the laughable token label stick. That's it! We minorities would be labeled as tokens. That would be the extent of their assault. This could eventually render the race card completely outdated and useless. It would also effectively put the Left on notice that authentic racism had found purpose and fit within their own ideology

All this is not to say that the Repub Party can win only with a minority. But I do insist that when Saul Alinsky shows up with his guest, Implied Racism, and are given a place of honor at the debate/discussion table, the Repub Party better have that willing minority rhetorician on call to make the Alinsky Left and his guests of honor feel very very uncomfortable. That rhetoric has to be soundly intimidated into submission and taken off the table. From that point forward, we can then move on with momentum to other issues.

@rofomoreno I agree. I believe there are three levels of rhetoric in politics. Defense, Advocacy, and Offense. So, using a race example, for us on the right, it would be this:

Defense: "No, we don't hate minorities."

Advocacy: "Here's how our policies will work better for minorities."

Offense: "It's YOUR policies on the left that have really hurt minorities, and here's how . . . "

I believe that we have to switch from defense straight to offense. Others will say that we have to go to advocacy---that no one wants to hear more division, they want to hear solutions. I agree with that in principle, but in practice, I suspect that the left has had us on the defense for so long that our advocacy is no longer heard. I think we may have to put them on the defensive for about a decade. By forcing them to spend some time playing defense, we clear up some of the rhetorical airspace, making room for our advocacy.

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